Do you know many young people who are hooked on books and reading? Do you know many elementary and high school students who use e-readers? According to an article in today's New York Times, "E-Readers Catch Younger Eyes and Fit in Backpacks," these slim devices at first attracted older readers but are now becoming increasingly popular with younger readers. Sales figures for young adult e-books downloads have been rising sharply: "Ever since the holidays, publishers have noticed that some unusual titles have spiked in e-book sales. The Chronicles of Narnia series. Hush, Hush. The Dork Diaries series.

"At HarperCollins, for example, e-books made up 25 percent of all young-adult sales in January, up from about 6 percent a year before — a boom in sales that quickly got the attention of publishers there."

After 11-year-old Eliana Litos received an e-reader in December, she said, “Some weeks I completely forgot about TV. I went two weeks with only watching one show, or no shows at all. I was just reading every day.”

In the article, Monica Vila, who runs the website The Online Mom, says, “Kids are drawn to the devices, and there’s a definite desire by parents to move books into this format. Now you’re finding people who are saying: ‘Let’s use the platform. Let’s use it as a way for kids to learn.’ Some teachers have been encouraging, too, telling their students that they are allowed to bring e-readers to school for leisure reading during homeroom and English class, for example."

"After receiving a light gray Sony Reader from her grandparents for Christmas, Mia Garcia, a 12-year-old from Touchet, Wash., downloaded Little Women, a book she had not read before. 'It made me cry,' Mia said."

As a young mother, I loved going to the library with our daughter and hauling home a b of books, so I agree with Eryn Garcia: “There’s something I’m not sure is entirely replaceable about having a stack of inviting books, just waiting for your kids to grab,” Ms. Garcia said. “But I’m an avid believer that you need to find what excites your child about reading. So I’m all for it.”

What do you think? Do your children or kids you know have e-readers and has it sparked their interest in reading more? Will this upward spike in book sales of younger readers continue? What could this mean for young adult writers? Who are your favorite YA authors?

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I love to play with words. To capture moments on the page. To explore the physical and spiritual geography of what I call "fly-over country." I write from imagination, observation and my own experience of wandering in fly-over country--the literal, physical spaces of my life on the Minnesota prairie and the inner territory of the soul.

I teach writing at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minnesota. I enjoy cooking and traveling with my husband Jim, reading, practicing yoga, playing tennis, biking, hiking and gardening.